Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

I ask you.

I want to ask you (me), who is looking at me with a tearful expression.

I (Ais) thought we shared the same feelings. Was I (Ais) mistaken? Was I (Ais) just imagining things?

What are you doing

Why are you there?

Why are you protecting the "monster"?!

That's outrageous! That's outrageous! That's outrageous!

How could you betray me like this!

You are me, and I am you!

When everything was taken away from us, and we realized we had lost everything, we were determined to kill all the "monsters"!

The foothold beneath my feet began to crumble and collapse with a crackling sound.

Deep within the heart of the other girl (Ais) who had disappeared, she sobbed like a fool.

then……

"But Bell saved me when I was all alone."

"!"

"Bell saved me from the darkness... from when no one else wanted to help me!"

She unfortunately discovered it.

Hearing the dragon girl's cry, she unfortunately made the connection.

The present and the past overlap.

The moonlit scene before her eyes merged with the desolate winter landscape slumbering in her memory—the dragon girl and another girl (Ais) became one.

The two mix together and become one.

What caught Ais's eye was...

(It's me...)

It is "Ais" with tears in her eyes.

(That's me...)

Ais's mask was completely peeled off.

—She's just like me!

Just like me, who has lost everything.

Just like me, always alone in a dark and cold place.

Just like the past me, whom no one was willing to save.

(But—)

She was rescued by a "young man".

No one was willing to show up and rescue Ais.

She had a young man who offered her a helping hand.

No one wanted to hold Ais's hand.

I hope you'll also meet someone wonderful.

I hope that one day you will meet your own hero.

My mother's and father's words came back to me.

(You guys lied to me!!)

A heart is crying out.

(The "hero"—didn't even appear before me!)

No matter how long Ais cried, no one was willing to show up. Later, she finally realized that no one would come to save her—which is why Ais picked up the "sword" herself!

The dragon girl before me is another version of myself who has met her "hero"!

(That's unfair! That's unfair! That's unfair!)

No one came to save me back then!

I have no choice but to pick up the "sword" myself!

Young Ais's voice echoed in her troubled and chaotic heart.

That was the sound of a little girl crying loudly. It was the sobbing of the "fragile girl (Ais)" who had already decided to say goodbye forever.

Ais looked at Bell. She looked at the "hero" who was holding the dragon girl tightly, the one who belonged only to her.

Pain seeped from my entire body.

Feeling sorrowful, I hugged her shoulders tightly.

Envy made his golden eyes sway and flutter.

"........."

Ais used her remaining willpower to seal away the remnants of her tearful past... and then slumped down in despair.

Like a puppet with its strings cut, it lowered the sword that had been pointed straight at the dragon girl.

"...I can no longer kill that dragon girl."

Exhausted, she could only manage such a hoarse voice.

"Ais, Miss..."

"Because I'm starting to think...you...you guys are right."

"..."

"I can no longer fight you..."

Ais couldn't lift her face, letting the moonlight soak her through.

Whether they were dragon girls or boys, Ais couldn't look them in the eye. She was afraid she would say something unreasonable and rude.

Now, Ais has lost the mask of the [Sword Maiden] and the armor of the adventurer; she is just a young girl.

It's just the wreckage of a dream, a dream that's worn out from waiting for a hero, both physically and mentally exhausted.

"...!"

When Bell saw her like this, he wanted to reach out for a moment, but then clenched his fist and looked away.

He held the dragon girl he had to protect tightly, not letting his hands loosen from her slender shoulders.

Ais didn't say a word.

There were no self-deprecating smiles, no mournful sounds, and no tears.

Driven by a disillusioned and resigned thought, she used her remaining rationality to stiffly retrieve the elixir from her bag.

"I cannot help you... I will stay here."

"Miss Ais..."

She placed the prop on the stone ground, took a few steps away, and turned around.

"You may leave."

"……thank you."

Bell picked up the elixir and left with the girl.

Ais did not turn around.

Her long, golden hair fluttered in the wind.

Ais even forgot to sheath her sword, her gaze fixed on the ground under the bright moonlight.

Today, this day.

Ais's vow was broken.

Her important promise to herself—"to slay monsters"—was broken.

"Ais".

"..."

"Doesn't it matter?"

"……Um."

"..."

"..."

"I'm going back now."

"…………Thank you."

Why are you thanking me?

The young man who appeared—presumably a werewolf who had witnessed the whole incident—left without saying a word.

When tranquility returned, leaving her alone in the same spot.

The girl looked up at the moonlit night and moved her lips:

"Someone...save me."

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 10 Afterword

Some readers may have already noticed that this episode slightly rearranged the chronological order of the main story and changed the sequence of scenes for easier reading. It might be quite interesting to compare it with the main story.

That's it, this is the tenth episode of the spin-off.

When writing spin-offs, I often struggle with what to write about, and this time I decided to use "Bell Crane's Victims" as the theme. That might not sound nice, but it basically talks about the impact that the main character has on everyone.

The main character's strength is far inferior to that of the spin-off cast, making it difficult to interact with them. The common trope of "lend a hand when in trouble" is almost entirely useless, as he ends up being rescued instead. So what can be done? I think there's no other option but to showcase a "survival strategy."

As we grow up, we often encounter moments when we feel envious of children. The term "artificial hero" that appears in this episode makes even me hesitate to write it. Some people know perfectly well that their actions are merely superficial, yet they can only continue doing it; I think there must be quite a few of them. Actually, my original plot outline was for the Thousand Spirits to defect to the main protagonist's side, leading to a plot hole and a confrontation with the Spirit Master, like in the color page of volume eleven of the main story—a master-disciple showdown. However, I really wanted to hear the true feelings of a certain character in the work, so I changed course and went with the current direction. I apologize to the Spirit Girl. And to the Hero, for her sacrifice and dedication, please continue to do your best.

Although it's a little faster than usual, please allow me to proceed with the acknowledgments.

Editors Takahashi and Matsumoto, I apologize for the delay again, as usual. I am truly sorry. Thank you to Editor-in-Chief Kitamura for your concern for the dizzy and lightheaded author; I apologize for causing you worry in many ways. Thank you to Haimura-kiyotaka for adding beautiful illustrations to the work; Haimura-kiyotaka's illustrations always help me a lot, thank you so much. And to everyone involved, please allow me to express my deepest gratitude.

This spin-off volume 10 is also available on a Drama CD (Editor's note: this is a Japanese exclusive). Many thanks to all the staff and related personnel for their assistance. And to the voice actors, thank you so much for getting through such a terrible script. I was so ashamed of myself when I heard it. How can I put it? I'm truly sorry. (Especially Ms. Nishi and Mr. Hon)

Starting with this episode, the spin-off has entered its third installment. I think the story that has unfolded from the first episode to the present is about to come to a temporary close. I hope everyone can patiently observe the future development of the characters.

Thank you for reading this far.

I hope to see you all again in the next episode. Goodbye.

大森藤ノ

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 10 Illustration

Gaiden: Sword Oratoria 10 Special Edition includes a drama CD and a clan entertainment event.

The online translation is from the Kingdom of Light

Audio source: Internet

Translated by: Zhu Jiu

Loki: "Well then, let's celebrate our hard-won return from this expedition... Cheers!" (In high spirits)

Everyone toasted... (in low spirits).

Loki: "What's wrong? What's wrong? Ais and Tan, why are you all so down?"

Bert: "Isn't that obvious? How many banquets like this have been held since the expedition ended?"

Ais: "This is... the 6th time, isn't it?"